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2.21.17 Seven-Year-Old SoCal Golf Prodigy Crowned Regional Champion
LOS ANGELES, CALIF., February 21, 2017 – SoCal golf prodigy Jaden R. Soong has returned from Phoenix, Arizona with his first regional championship trophy as a 7-year-old. The young golfer brought home the top prize for Boys 7 at the U.S. Kids Golf Regional Desert Shootout at The Wigwam, one of the country’s premier golf resorts.
It was a cold, wet, and windy weekend in Phoenix but the seasoned competitor, who first picked up a golf club at the age of 2, took it in stride. Jaden made a strong showing in Round 1, ending the day one stroke back from the lead position despite the tough weather conditions, including a 45-minute delay due to lightning, as well as being the smallest competitor in a field of 19 top junior golfers. He then rallied in Round 2, finishing the day with three birdies in a row for a four-stroke lead to capture the title.
This was Jaden’s third consecutive regional win after taking top honors for Boys 6 & Under at the U.S. Kids Golf Palm Springs Open and Monterey Challenge in 2016.
Prior to the Desert Shootout, Jaden had been preparing for the tournament at his weekly practice sessions with golf coach James Jordan.
“He has been working hard with Coach James to dial in his approach shots from different yardages,” said Chris Soong, Jaden’s father and caddie. “He played well this weekend but his putting sealed the victory. He was very focused and made some clutch putts on the final three holes. We are so proud of him.”
The win tops off a busy week for the pint-sized athlete, who attended the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club to meet several professional golfers. A photo of Jaden with his hero Jordan Spieth even went viral, being shared by outlets such as the Golf Channel and Golf Digest.
Earlier this month, Jaden took 2nd place in the 5-6 division for the 2017 Little Linksters Best Pee-Wee Swing in the World Contest judged by Jack Nicklaus, Brooke Henderson, Andrew “Beef” Johnson, Lauren Thompson, and other golf bigwigs.
Following a stellar year with a 5th place finish at the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina, 3rd place in putting skills at the Drive, Chip & Putt qualifier, and a string of local and regional victories plus features by Golf Digest and BuzzFeed Video calling him “the next Tiger Woods”, Jaden has emerged in the golf community as one to watch.
Next month Jaden will begin his spring golf season with U.S. Kids Golf at Los Robles Greens Golf Course followed by the State Invitationals in June and the World Championship at Pinehurst in August.
Follow Jaden’s journey at www.instagram.com/jadenrsoong.
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It was a cold, wet, and windy weekend in Phoenix but the seasoned competitor, who first picked up a golf club at the age of 2, took it in stride. Jaden made a strong showing in Round 1, ending the day one stroke back from the lead position despite the tough weather conditions, including a 45-minute delay due to lightning, as well as being the smallest competitor in a field of 19 top junior golfers. He then rallied in Round 2, finishing the day with three birdies in a row for a four-stroke lead to capture the title.
This was Jaden’s third consecutive regional win after taking top honors for Boys 6 & Under at the U.S. Kids Golf Palm Springs Open and Monterey Challenge in 2016.
Prior to the Desert Shootout, Jaden had been preparing for the tournament at his weekly practice sessions with golf coach James Jordan.
“He has been working hard with Coach James to dial in his approach shots from different yardages,” said Chris Soong, Jaden’s father and caddie. “He played well this weekend but his putting sealed the victory. He was very focused and made some clutch putts on the final three holes. We are so proud of him.”
The win tops off a busy week for the pint-sized athlete, who attended the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club to meet several professional golfers. A photo of Jaden with his hero Jordan Spieth even went viral, being shared by outlets such as the Golf Channel and Golf Digest.
Earlier this month, Jaden took 2nd place in the 5-6 division for the 2017 Little Linksters Best Pee-Wee Swing in the World Contest judged by Jack Nicklaus, Brooke Henderson, Andrew “Beef” Johnson, Lauren Thompson, and other golf bigwigs.
Following a stellar year with a 5th place finish at the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina, 3rd place in putting skills at the Drive, Chip & Putt qualifier, and a string of local and regional victories plus features by Golf Digest and BuzzFeed Video calling him “the next Tiger Woods”, Jaden has emerged in the golf community as one to watch.
Next month Jaden will begin his spring golf season with U.S. Kids Golf at Los Robles Greens Golf Course followed by the State Invitationals in June and the World Championship at Pinehurst in August.
Follow Jaden’s journey at www.instagram.com/jadenrsoong.
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11.16.16 SoCal Six-Year-Old Golf Prodigy Plays Record Year
LOS ANGELES, CALIF., November 16, 2016 - Jaden R. Soong, a local Japanese-American junior golf prodigy, has played his last tournament as a six-year-old. On November 13, U.S. Kids Golf (USKG) named Jaden the Los Angeles fall tour champion at Elkins Ranch Golf Club in Fillmore, California. This was the young golfer's 18th local victory of 2016 and the last win in his current age group. In January 2017 Jaden will turn seven years old and move up to the Boys 7 tournament field.
In addition to success on the local tour circuit this year, Jaden placed 5th out of 80 competitors as the top American Boys 6 & Under contender at the USKG World Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina. He took home the top honors at USKG regional tournaments The Palm Springs Open and The Monterey Challenge, 3rd in putting skills at the Drive, Chip & Putt qualifier, and 2nd place for Boys 5-6 in the Little Linksters Annual Best Pee Wee Golf Swing in the World Video Contest judged by pro golfers Jordan Spieth and Lydia Ko. Jaden also recorded a career low of -4 under 32, no small feat for a player who stands just 3 feet 9 inches tall.
Other highlights from 2016 included appearances on The Golf Channel's Morning Drive, ABC 7 News, Nickelodeon's Crashletes, and local radio station 100.3 The Sound. Jaden also launched his popular Instagram account where he has become known for his trademark videos featuring golf swings in slow motion, with some reaching over 2 million views.
Jaden, who started playing golf at the age of two and who has been called "the next Tiger Woods" by both fans and media, is an energetic six-year-old boy who loves to joke around but is very serious when it comes to his favorite sport. The first grader aspires to be a professional golfer like his idol Jordan Spieth and already possesses the skill, ambition, and drive of an serious athlete.
In addition to tournaments, he plays golf 1-2 times a week and participates in hour-long practice sessions with golf coach James Jordan at Woodley Lakes Golf Course in Lake Balboa, who guides him through drills to improve his strength, flexibility, and balance.
"From the time Jaden picked up his first plastic golf club, it was apparent that he had a natural swing," said Chris Soong, father and caddie of the young golfer. "But it is his talent combined with his dedication and hard work that have got him to where he is today. We are very proud of Jaden and look forward to supporting him on his journey."
For more information, visit www.jadenrsoong.com or www.instagram.com/jadenrsoong
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In addition to success on the local tour circuit this year, Jaden placed 5th out of 80 competitors as the top American Boys 6 & Under contender at the USKG World Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina. He took home the top honors at USKG regional tournaments The Palm Springs Open and The Monterey Challenge, 3rd in putting skills at the Drive, Chip & Putt qualifier, and 2nd place for Boys 5-6 in the Little Linksters Annual Best Pee Wee Golf Swing in the World Video Contest judged by pro golfers Jordan Spieth and Lydia Ko. Jaden also recorded a career low of -4 under 32, no small feat for a player who stands just 3 feet 9 inches tall.
Other highlights from 2016 included appearances on The Golf Channel's Morning Drive, ABC 7 News, Nickelodeon's Crashletes, and local radio station 100.3 The Sound. Jaden also launched his popular Instagram account where he has become known for his trademark videos featuring golf swings in slow motion, with some reaching over 2 million views.
Jaden, who started playing golf at the age of two and who has been called "the next Tiger Woods" by both fans and media, is an energetic six-year-old boy who loves to joke around but is very serious when it comes to his favorite sport. The first grader aspires to be a professional golfer like his idol Jordan Spieth and already possesses the skill, ambition, and drive of an serious athlete.
In addition to tournaments, he plays golf 1-2 times a week and participates in hour-long practice sessions with golf coach James Jordan at Woodley Lakes Golf Course in Lake Balboa, who guides him through drills to improve his strength, flexibility, and balance.
"From the time Jaden picked up his first plastic golf club, it was apparent that he had a natural swing," said Chris Soong, father and caddie of the young golfer. "But it is his talent combined with his dedication and hard work that have got him to where he is today. We are very proud of Jaden and look forward to supporting him on his journey."
For more information, visit www.jadenrsoong.com or www.instagram.com/jadenrsoong
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